New legislation introduced by the top-ranking member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee could require federal food and agriculture regulators to treat hemp-derived CBD as a dietary supplement. Agriculture Chair Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat, suggests changing the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C) to include the regulation... Read more
Federal officials designated money for hemp research at Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center as part of the nearly $20 million earmarked for the hemp industry in the massive appropriations bill that passed both houses of the U.S. Congress at the end of 2019. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkeley,... Read more
(This is an abridged version of a story that appears in the January issue of Marijuana Business Magazine.) Technology powered by artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly evolved in traditional indoor agricultural production in recent years, as companies use the vast amounts of data produced in their operations to make better... Read more
A farm in southern Oregon is suing a group of processors who they say failed to show up and harvest and process its hemp after receiving a six-figure down payment. Jefferson State Farms of Medford, owned by Ben and Kathleen Yuma, is suing: Palex Enterprises. Hemp Warehouse. Great Horizons.... Read more
Broad physician adoption of a cannabis-derived epilepsy treatment is boosting sales for the only company with federal permission to sell cannabis products in the United States. London-based GW Pharmaceuticals told investors Monday that it notched $108 million in sales last quarter and $309 million for calendar 2019. The sales figures were... Read more
Kentucky hemp farmers are asking the state to hold off on attempts to win federal approval for regulating the new crop. After the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) returned Kentucky’s hemp production plan with an outline of changes that must be made to ensure federal approval for the 2020... Read more
Opportunities abound in the hemp industry, but to attain the crop’s full potential, it’s going to require people from all walks of life, according to industry observers. “I want to go to a conference and not feel like I’m the only black guy there,” said Malcolm Anderson, founder and CEO... Read more
A decision by a federal judge in Florida to put a CBD lawsuit on hold pending federal clarity on the extract signals the judiciary isn’t yet ready to start hearing class action claims against the industry. U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro ruled Jan. 3 that a CBD manufacturer shouldn’t face... Read more
A cosmetics, skin-care and beauty products specialty retailer will carry more products containing CBD in stores across several states after signing its largest cannabis-related partnership. New York-based retail giant Sephora will sell products from California beauty company Saint Jane in 281 stores across 22 states as of Jan. 10,... Read more
Mile High Labs, a CBD manufacturer in suburban Denver, said it has laid off 20 employees, mostly sales positions. This week’s layoffs, a cut of less than 10% of Mile High Labs’ workforce, take the company from more than 250 employees to about 230, the Denver Post reported. The... Read more
